Monday, May 29, 2006

Took Travis to see the blind fish at Linville Caverns today. This was one of the rock formations inside. Tripods are not allowed, but flashes were. I would love to do some long exposures here. Kinda creepy, though, being like, hundreds of feet under a mountain.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Tonight, and for the past three nights, our church has had a demonstration group called "Eternal Force" doing a "crusade" of sorts. Basically, these guys break, bend, and tear stuff that normal people can't and share their personal testimony of what Christ has done in their lives.

Tonight was the only night I got to go, but it was definitely interesting. My PaD today is our pastor, Daryl, accepting the challenge to break blocks. I know that this is largely technique based, but, I would imagine there has to be *some* strength there. Haha.

There were some bricks left over, and tomorrow, after church, the pastor's wife and I are going to show them how it's done. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

There are days when I feel like if I could just sleep a few extra minutes (nothing like having early risers when you are a night person), or a couple of free hours, or even be able to take a shower with the door closed, I would be in the lap of luxury. I never realized how little time mothers have for themselves once they give birth. Or the sacrifices made, even if just insignificant.

On January 11, 2002, when I became a mother for the first time, I was totally overwhelmed with the little boy I was holding. Four years later, I am still overwhelmed, and I have added a little girl to the mix. There are times when I wonder if I have any parenting skills at all. They whine, they cry, they fight, they fuss, and that is all before breakfast some days! I get frustrated, I worry about them, I try to do what is best, but it still seems that I fail miserably sometimes.

Then one of them falls down and gets a bump or bruise, and guess who they come running to? Yep, me. Dr. Mom. Kissing boo boos does seem to really work. Or they get sleepy, and they come and put their head on my shoulder. Or something really good happens and they give me a high five (the boy) or clap at me (the 15 month old).

Or, at night, after they are in bed, and they are resting so soundly and look so quiet and peaceful. Then, I am hit with the responsibilty that I have to make sure they are what they need to be. I am responsible for their education of life, and so much of how they view themselves will depend on how I treat them and love them.

Yea, I make mistakes, and I lose it with them sometimes, but even that can be a learning experience -- they get to see how to ask for forgiveness and say, "I'm sorry."

I honestly can't remember life before my kids (well, maybe sleeping late on Saturday), they are that big a part of my life. I often feel if my purpose in life was to give birth to them and to raise them to adulthood. And when I think of that, I consider it a privilege and a high calling to strive to do just that, and do it well.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

The cross at Lake Junaluska, NC. I don't think I've ever done a night one before. I almost didn't stop to take it, but since I wasn't driving, and my husband knew I wanted to, he stopped and made me get out of the car.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Remember these? Back before the days of CDs. I just realized our computer now doesn't even have a drive for these puppies. :)

I was getting ready to shut down for the night. After processing pictures for like three different things, I guess I thought I had done my PaD for today. Then, whoops, I remembered that I hadn't. So, I was scrounging through the desk drawer and found these (no lie, I couldn't find any paper clips).

Friday, May 05, 2006

You know, if I were "established" as a Fine Art photographer, I could probably get by with a lot less interesting photos. I would not have to be technically correct, and people would still pay thousands just to have one of my prints. I think a lot of times we tend to *assign* value based on what we *think* something is worth. If a "master" produces a piece of trash, invariably, there will be some loop that sings its creative genius. Kinda like the story of the King and the new clothes, that weren't really clothes at all, but a scam. BUT, the king believed there were clothes, because he didn't want to look stupid. Yea.

This shot . ..

In reality, it is a boring picture of a soap dispenser on the wall. BUT, let's pretend for a moment that I am not some redneckish hack from the mountains of Western North Carolina. Let's suppose I am the premier fine art photographer with THE gallery in downtown NY. (I'm not naming any names, or even thinking of anyone in particular. One, because I don't know any names. And two, I don't want to make it seem like I am criticizing someone's work which may truly be genius). Now, it is more than a soap dispenser, it is a charged political statement about the working conditions of those in low subserviant jobs that can't get ahead no matter what they do.

Add to it a different crop . . .

Now, for the smalltown hack, this is a poorly composed, bad bw image of a soap dispenser. BUT, for the already arriven (is that even a word?) photographer, the unusual crop adds to the tension of the shot, and helps to deliver an even more pointed message, and speaks to the poetic and metaphysical genius of the photographer.

Okay, if you are still reading, you are either confused, mad, or amused. I hope the latter. This is truly tongue in cheek. Art is probably one of the most subjective "things" there is and beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I have seen "works of art" that made me go "huh?" and I have seen tremendous beauty in the simple shots that get looked over. I also recognize that most widely acclaimed photographers are in that position for a reason, and I would not want to belittle their product in any form or fashion. But I did think it was food for thought.

The real story behind my genius? I was testing my flash before I did a reshoot of a cap and gown picture that went kaput a few days before.:) And it was a picture. And it was made on May 3rd. And it is not paperclips. :)

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Monday, May 01, 2006

A new month!!!! I tried to think of a "theme" for this month, but I can't. I am going to try and post a "quality" picture each day, not just "lets take a macro of a paperclip to say I've posted" type picture, that I'm becoming more and more likely to do.

The last day of April. Wow. And I'm still going. Dang. Why is it that I seem to be able to persevere with projects that have not "lasting" value, but things that I *need* to do, I fizzle on. Guess it is whatever keeps my interest.

This shot is an idea for the cliche challenge at DPC. Doubt I'll use it, but it was fun to do. Teh camera is IN the paper bag, and I used a remote to trigger the shutter.